Toro — Restaurant in Boston

Nestled in the vibrant culinary scene of Boston, Toro stands out as a true gem that offers an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment you step through the doors, you're greeted with an inviting ambiance, warm hospitality, and a menu that promises to take your taste buds on an extraordinary journey. I recently had the pleasure of dining at Toro, and I am thrilled to share my delightful experience with you.

Exquisite Culinary Craftsmanship: Toro's menu is a testament to the exquisite culinary craftsmanship that the restaurant prides itself on. Each dish was meticulously prepared, showcasing the culinary expertise and passion of the talented chefs. From the first bite to the last, every dish was a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that left me craving more. The menu seamlessly blends traditional Spanish cuisine with modern influences, resulting in a truly unique and memorable dining experience.

Tempting Tapas Selection: One of Toro's standout features is its impressive selection of tapas. The menu offers an array of small plates, allowing guests to sample a variety of flavors and textures in one sitting. From the perfectly seared scallops to the tender braised pork cheeks, each tapa was a work of art on its own. The attention to detail in both presentation and taste was evident, making it difficult to pick a favorite. The knowledgeable waitstaff was more than happy to guide us through the menu, ensuring we made the most of our culinary journey.

Unforgettable Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Toro is both lively and intimate, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. The restaurant's interior is beautifully designed, with rustic elements and warm lighting that exude a cozy and inviting ambiance. The energetic hum of conversation and the bustling open kitchen added to the overall atmosphere, making it clear that Toro is not just a place to eat but a destination to savor and enjoy.

Impeccable Service: The service at Toro was truly impeccable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring that our dining experience was flawless from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and valued as guests. The servers were prompt in taking our orders and accommodating any dietary preferences or allergies. Their genuine passion for the cuisine and dedication to providing exceptional service elevated our evening to new heights.

Conclusion: Toro in Boston is a culinary masterpiece that should not be missed by any food enthusiast. With its exquisite culinary craftsmanship, tempting tapas selection, unforgettable atmosphere, and impeccable service, Toro delivers an experience that goes far beyond a typical meal. Each visit to Toro is an opportunity to indulge in the artistry of Spanish cuisine and create lasting memories. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking a remarkable dining experience, Toro is the perfect destination to satisfy your cravings and leave you...

Toro was a friend’s recommendation as it is his favorite restaurant in Boston. We were able to get a reservation for 2 at 7 in the morning and got seated around 6:45.

For 2 gals we had 4 dishes, and were very stuffed. Good portion sizes for tapas and none of the dishes were disappointing.

In the order they came to us:

Escalivada Catalana The smoked eggplant dip mixed with peppers, tomatoes, and sherry vinegar. If you ever had and liked the eggplant canned dip from trader joe, you will love this. This is an elevated version of the dip as it contains much more intensified smokey flavor and heat, just enough to give you kicks to make you want more. The acidity of the vinegar balances the heat and the use of (ample amount) olive oil coats the tongue and delivered a smooth finish. The dish comes with baguette slices (honestly not enough).

Pulpo a la Plantxa Grilled octopus mixed with confit potato, pimenton, and alioli sauce. Love love this dish. I order octopus and razor clams to every tapas place I go (if they have them on menu ofc) as the reference. Their octopus is good! Crispy and charred on the outside but still tender on the inside. No chewiness that breaks your teeth retainers. The potatoes were cooked just right as they got nice mushy interior but hold crispy exterior. They used a lot of paprika (pimenton) and alioli sauce, so you got creamy, smoky, and a bit of sweet and spicy.

Maíz Asado Two grilled corns coated with alioli, espelette, and aged cheese and lime. Elote! Who can say no?! I couldn’t. Great cooked and charred corns coated THICKLY with alioli and espelette. Super creamy and delicious, low in 🌶️. The aged cheese was a great add-on to the umami flavor profile and I squeezed the lime juice freshly to counterbalance the pleasant-overwhelming creaminess. This is now become my one of my “go-to” for tapas, reminds of these childhood milky corns I got from KFC back home.

Filete a la Plantxa Toro The spiced hanger steak topped with sherry peppercorn sauce and a grilled broccolini side. The variation in the doneness of the steak is expected but the edges were overcooked so they were chewy. The center is nice and medium-rare which I dig. The sauce was acidic and salty and compliments the meatiness of the steak. The highlight is actually the broccolini, perfectly garlicky and cooked in the right doneness. They florets hold a lot of sauce yet the stem is still crunchy.

So my friend is actually a pub-lover so Toro is his favorite, but I don’t think I really liked the loud music and the pub-bar ish vibe. The music is too loud to my ear and I had trouble chatting to my friend. Reminds me too much of the sirens I had in the city. Maybe I am too old-fashioned for this...

The restaurant can be packed during prime dinner hours, so I would definitely recommend a reservation. We were able to snag a reservation for a dining table the day before (it was a weeknight). The ambience is quite nice, with romantic (real) candles on the table, though the music selection is interesting (not Spanish, if that's what you were wondering). The dining tables are also extremely close together - if you're sitting on the bench side, you can't get up during the meal without disrupting the diners to either side of you.

We knew we wanted the paella vegetariana, so we put in a request for it right away. The menu indicates that it takes about 30 minutes to prepare, so we knew it would be the last dish to come out. In addition to the small paella, we were advised to order about 2 tapas per person. We picked the tortilla española, patatas bravas, maíz asado, and bruselas.

The tortilla española was on the small side - it's just a slice, and it was cold, which was weird to us and a bit disappointing. However, the rest of the food was piping hot, especially the patatas bravas, to the point where we had to blow on it! I really enjoyed the bruselas and would recommend it for any vegetarians. I wasn't sure what the maíz would be like, but WOW. It was excellent and should DEFINITELY be ordered when you come! The sauces were great and you're left wanting to lick your fingers - the only downside is the difficulty in scarfing it down while still appearing dignified.

When the paella came out, we had already finished everything else and I was pretty full. I actually think we could've done without one of the other tapas. The paella is served with lemon slices to squeeze, though the rice is hot enough that you should be careful picking up the lemon! The bottom of the rice is crispy, so give it a good mix before tasting. Overall, I thought the paella was just average (granted, that may be because this was the vegetarian version).

Despite being quite full, we ordered the churros con chocolate - when in Rome (or in this case, Spain)! It was quite cinammon-y, and I thought it was just okay.

It would be amiss to not touch on the service, which was quite good. Servers frequently came to refill my water, which is a huge sticking point for me, and checked in on us at a decent frequency. When getting up to use the restroom, they came over to fold the napkin on the table. I was also quite impressed with how quick they were when packing up our leftovers to-go.

I would definitely recommend Toro for a...